The Nihon Review - Anime Reviews & Editorials

Our newest reviews today are loads of fun to watch and both unified in their theme of heroics.

For our first new review, My Hero Academia is what AC calls a return to form in terms of shounen anime for BONES and a recommended watch even for those who aren’t into the superhero genre.

Next, Kaikyaku takes a look at the second season of one of the more memorable sports anime of the last several years in her review of Haikyuu!! 2. If you’re a fan of the first season, the second season is well worth the time.

If you’ve been looking for some recent anime that are different from what you’re used to, here’s two fantastic anime from the last few months that are definitely worth a look.

First, we present a review of the excellent rakugo-themed anime Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinju. Kaikyaku found the character-driven show to be a delight with impressive visuals to backup its complex character development.

Second is a look at the newest entry in the Gundam franchise: Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans. While the show has a few holes that it wasn’t able to fill up completely, Kavik Ryx argues that it’s a welcome update to a franchise that was starting to feel a bit dated.

Don’t let the long title of this post put you off — today we have a wonderful pair of anime reviews that highlights the best and worst of anime that ended over the first few months of 2016.

To give you the good stuff first, check out Kavik Ryx‘s thoughts on a surprise hit from Winter 2016: Hai to Gensou no Grimgar. The setting may be familiar to most of us that watch anime, with its main characters suddenly transported into a mysterious land where the struggle to survive, but it’s definitely got more to it than you would guess by its cover.

In addition, we also review a pretty horrible anime by all standards in Heavy Object. It’s so lackluster that it makes last year’s Aldnoah.Zero look like a masterpiece.

This week, The Nihon Review brings you not one, but TWO looks at the time-traveling mystery adventure Erased. Do you agree with AC that the series ranks among the best of the season, using its sci-fi elements well and keeping the audience wondering what will happen next? Or, did you think the series lost its way and didn’t quite pull off the exciting tale it was going for? Have a look at Reckoner‘s thoughts. Either way, it was certainly one of the most talked about series of the winter season!

Today we have reviews of two series that didn’t quite pull it off. Comet Lucifer, as Kavik Ryx describes, puts a lot of effort into world building but doesn’t come away with something that feel consistent or cohesive. Similarly, Reckoner shares his thoughts on Charlotte, the latest Key series, which doesn’t pack the emotional punch of previous works. We also posted our mid-season impressions last week in case you missed it!